London 101_May'11

LONdON101

hOteLscuLtureshOpssightsrestauraNts

all you need to know to enjoy england’s capital

10

kanoo world traveller

london 101 cover_.indd 1 4/26/2011 8:35:09 PM

We’ve always been known for our friendly service and our crew and ground sta� really understand the needs of our customers. We o�er our excellent service daily from destinations in the Kingdon of Saudi Arabia to London Heathrow.

bmi �ies from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah to London Heathrow. For more information contact your travel agent, call toll free on 800 124 5550 or visit �ybmi.com

Daily service to London.

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Untitled-2 3 4/28/2011 2:01:48 PM




Untitled-2 3 4/28/2011 2:01:48 PM

London 101 3

Capital gainsAs London gears up for the 2012 Olympics, huge new infrastructure projects are being put in place, hotels are being refurbished, countless new restaurants are being opened, and a world of new activities is being put on offer. The city’s ever-vibrant art and culture scene is also getting a shot in the arm, as new waves of plays, exhibitions, musicals and more are brought to life. In short, there’s no better time to pay a visit to England’s capital, before the sport-loving crowds descend next year…

About this guide Our panel of experts has selected the 101 best things about London and placed them into simple-to-reference sections, making it easy for you to plan your perfect trip. Our recommendations range from mainstream essentials to more off-beat options, getting you straight to the heart of this action-packed city.

ContentsThe Hotels – outstanding abodes,

from the traditional to the modern.

The Shopping – quirky boutiques,

designer brands and department

store delights.

The Restaurants – celebrity chef

creations and the best up-and-

coming independent eateries.

The Culture – galleries, museums,

theatres and the best spots for

opera and ballet.

The Sights – don’t leave town

without ticking these must-sees

off your list. London

7

13

18

24

29

Produced byHOT Media PublishingFZ LLC

Production in whole or in part without written permission from HOT Media Publishing is strictly prohibited. HOT Media Publishing does not accept liability for omissions or errors in this publication.

welcome to london 101.indd 3 4/26/2011 8:50:42 PM

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London 101 3

Capital gainsAs London gears up for the 2012 Olympics, huge new infrastructure projects are being put in place, hotels are being refurbished, countless new restaurants are being opened, and a world of new activities is being put on offer. The city’s ever-vibrant art and culture scene is also getting a shot in the arm, as new waves of plays, exhibitions, musicals and more are brought to life. In short, there’s no better time to pay a visit to England’s capital, before the sport-loving crowds descend next year…

About this guide Our panel of experts has selected the 101 best things about London and placed them into simple-to-reference sections, making it easy for you to plan your perfect trip. Our recommendations range from mainstream essentials to more off-beat options, getting you straight to the heart of this action-packed city.

ContentsThe Hotels – outstanding abodes,

from the traditional to the modern.

The Shopping – quirky boutiques,

designer brands and department

store delights.

The Restaurants – celebrity chef

creations and the best up-and-

coming independent eateries.

The Culture – galleries, museums,

theatres and the best spots for

opera and ballet.

The Sights – don’t leave town

without ticking these must-sees

off your list. London

7

13

18

24

29

Produced byHOT Media PublishingFZ LLC

Production in whole or in part without written permission from HOT Media Publishing is strictly prohibited. HOT Media Publishing does not accept liability for omissions or errors in this publication.


London 101 5

1The size in square

miles of the actual City of London – most of the rest of the centre

actually falls under ‘The City of Westminster’.

12 The number of little-known rivers which flowed beneath the streets of London,

including the Walbrook, the Fleet, and Stamford Brook.

32 The number of pods on the London Eye, each of which represents one of the London

boroughs.

25,000The number of black cabs currently plying the streets of London.

80,000The number of

umbrellas lost each year on the London

Underground.

Market intelligence

May

What’s on while you’re there... London by

numbers

September

January

June

February

July

November

March

August

December

April

This month sees the start of the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park, a lovely place for al fresco entertainment in the long sunny evenings.

Swing by the National Portrait Gallery to check out the contestants in the BP Portrait Awards, an annual artistic showdown.

The highly prestigious London Art Fair sees dealers, collectors, artists and interested onlookers

converge on the city for five days.

Make sure not to miss out on the exuberant Spitalfields Festival which features a brilliant programme of classical folk and pop music in a beautiful setting.

London Fashion Week comes to town, bringing designers and fashionistas from across the globe together to assess the action on the catwalks.

What could be more relaxingly British than watching the cricket on a summer’s day? This is the month to enjoy test matches at the Oval.

If you’re here towards the beginning of the month, you can attend the grand switching-on ceremonies of Oxford Street and Regent Street’s beautiful festive lights.

The Oxford and Cambridge boat race

draws huge crowds to the Riverside in West London, to see the old University enemies go head-to-head.

Get your fill of classical music, opera, jazz and pop at the Proms, which run throughout this month. It is a great chance to see some of the world’s best musicians in action.

The middle of the month sees the Bankside Frost Fair come to the River Thames – this historic festival mixes great food with plenty of cultural events.

Cinephiles will love the excitement of the East End film Festival which showcases up-and-coming UK directors who will screen both features and shorts.

Here’s a beautifully eccentric British event for you – the Hampstead Heath Conker Championships. Take part yourself or just watch the experts in action.

October

31

London is filled with markets, selling everything from jewellery to vintage clothing and from flowers to gourmet foods. Almost every area has at least one – some of the best-known include Camden market (mainly tourist- and music-oriented), Broadway market (vintage clothing and gourmet food), Brick Lane market (retro furniture and handmade clothing), Spitalfields market (redesigned by Norman Foster and home to the great antiques).

RIVER THAMES


4 London 101

The Knowledge Getting There

bmi British Midland International offers scheduled

services to London Heathrow from Riyadh,

Dammam and Jeddah, making it a simple city

to access. For ticketing information, visit your

nearest Kanoo Travel or American Express Travel

outlet or log onto www.flybmi.com

Transport

It’s easy to get around London and all of the

major sights and attractions are very well

signposted. The London Underground, which is

more commonly known as ‘The Tube’, is the most

popular form of transport. It’s easy to use and

comprises 12 lines which can ferry you from the

heart of the city to its outer limits. Simply pick

up an Underground map on arrival into London

Heathrow and consider buying an Oyster Card,

which is a cost-effective way of travelling without

limit on not only the tube network but buses and

most local rail services, too. Buses and black cabs

– two iconic modes of London transport – are also

in plentiful supply throughout the city. If you want

to hire a car and drive around the city yourself,

you’ll find an endless number of rental firms at the

airport. Just remember that people drive on the

left hand side of the road in the UK.

Money

The Pound Sterling is the official currency of the

UK. Denominations of coins range from one pence

to two pounds (100 pence make up one pound)

and notes from five pounds to 50 pounds. At time

of press, US$1 was equivalent to 61 pence.

Visas

Nationals of all GCC countries

require a visa to enter the

UK and can stay for

a maximum of six

months.

The need-to-know facts for getting to and around London.

SOUTH BANK

HYDE PARkoxford street

KINGS ROAD

RIVER THAMES


London 101 5

1The size in square

miles of the actual City of London – most of the rest of the centre

actually falls under ‘The City of Westminster’.

12 The number of little-known rivers which flowed beneath the streets of London,

including the Walbrook, the Fleet, and Stamford Brook.

32 The number of pods on the London Eye, each of which represents one of the London

boroughs.

25,000The number of black cabs currently plying the streets of London.

80,000The number of

umbrellas lost each year on the London

Underground.

Market intelligence

May

What’s on while you’re there... London by

numbers

September

January

June

February

July

November

March

August

December

April

This month sees the start of the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park, a lovely place for al fresco entertainment in the long sunny evenings.

Swing by the National Portrait Gallery to check out the contestants in the BP Portrait Awards, an annual artistic showdown.

The highly prestigious London Art Fair sees dealers, collectors, artists and interested onlookers

converge on the city for five days.

Make sure not to miss out on the exuberant Spitalfields Festival which features a brilliant programme of classical folk and pop music in a beautiful setting.

London Fashion Week comes to town, bringing designers and fashionistas from across the globe together to assess the action on the catwalks.

What could be more relaxingly British than watching the cricket on a summer’s day? This is the month to enjoy test matches at the Oval.

If you’re here towards the beginning of the month, you can attend the grand switching-on ceremonies of Oxford Street and Regent Street’s beautiful festive lights.

The Oxford and Cambridge boat race

draws huge crowds to the Riverside in West London, to see the old University enemies go head-to-head.

Get your fill of classical music, opera, jazz and pop at the Proms, which run throughout this month. It is a great chance to see some of the world’s best musicians in action.

The middle of the month sees the Bankside Frost Fair come to the River Thames – this historic festival mixes great food with plenty of cultural events.

Cinephiles will love the excitement of the East End film Festival which showcases up-and-coming UK directors who will screen both features and shorts.

Here’s a beautifully eccentric British event for you – the Hampstead Heath Conker Championships. Take part yourself or just watch the experts in action.

October

31

London is filled with markets, selling everything from jewellery to vintage clothing and from flowers to gourmet foods. Almost every area has at least one – some of the best-known include Camden market (mainly tourist- and music-oriented), Broadway market (vintage clothing and gourmet food), Brick Lane market (retro furniture and handmade clothing), Spitalfields market (redesigned by Norman Foster and home to the great antiques).

RIVER THAMES


London 101 7

Whether you want traditional and opulent or quirky and imaginative, London’s hotels are varied enough to please all manner of tastes. They do have one thing in common, though – the levels of quality and service they offer are simply world-beating...

The Hotels

The Hilton Park Lane (www.hilton.co.uk) is located

directly opposite Hyde Park, with its grand gardens,

boating lake and kilometres of cycling, jogging and

strolling paths. This lovely modern hotel has more

to offer than its central location however – starting

with the Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows

restaurant, which offers panoramic views over

the city. There is a first-class health club and spa

too – don’t miss out on their trademark four hand

massage – and of course beautiful rooms.

Nearby is the superb InterContinental Park Lane

(www.ichotelsgroup.com). This flagship hotel is

just across the road from Apsley house, the former

home of the Duke of Wellington, which is blessed

with the coolest address in the city – “Number one,

London.” The interiors are immaculately modern

and the facilities are second to none. As with all

Intercontinental properties, there is an emphasis

on outstanding food and drink – the signature

restaurant, Theo Randall at the Intercontinental, is

a brilliantly sparky, contemporary Italian hotspot

which mixes beautiful seasonal British ingredients

with Tuscan flair.

On the same prestigious strip as the Hilton and

the Intercontinental is the Four Seasons Park Lane

(www.fourseasons.com). Its decor is outrageously

lavish, and even hanging out for a coffee in the

lobby area – with its sink-in art deco seating and its

live pianist – is a treat. There are some particularly

exciting touches here, including a glass-walled

rooftop spa where you can get incredible views

with your expert rubdown. For a truly charming

stay book a garden suite, which comes with a

landscaped terrace overlooking a private garden, as

well as a lounge fit for a king.

When it comes to classic hotel names to conjure

with, there are few more powerful than The

Dorchester (www.thedorchester.com) a grand spot

which has been one of the favourite hangouts of

the great and good for over 80 years. There are no

fewer than seven separate food and drink outlets at

the Dorchester, the most exciting of which is Alain

Ducasse’s London residence. We are also huge fans

of the ‘Spatisserie’, an informal place to enjoy a

light lunch, indulgent afternoon tea, or just-baked

pastry before or after your soothing spa session.

The suites are enormous here and each come

decked out with individual style – for a real treat

book the famous Oliver Messel suite.

Right alongside the Dorchester in the name

london 101.indd 7 4/27/2011 3:40:53 PM

Define British Classic in the heart of Mayfair Rocco Forte’s Brown’s Hotel London

This chic hotel personifies the refined sophistication of modern British luxury and offers the perfect home-away-from-home. Rocco Forte’s Brown’s Hotel is in the heart of Mayfair,

boasting one of the most prestigious addresses in the city. The hotel is located only minutes away from the most upscale London shopping areas such as Bond and Regent Street.

With outstanding personal service, spacious and elegant rooms and suites - ideal for large families - and its restaurant ‘HIX at the Albemarle’ celebrating art and cuisine, it offers all a

most memorable London experience.

Albermarle Street, London, W1S 4BP Tel: 020 7493 6020 Fax: 020 7493 9381E-mail: [email protected] www.roccofortecollection.com

Brown A5 New Ad.indd 1 4/27/2011 7:56:10 PM

London 101 7

Whether you want traditional and opulent or quirky and imaginative, London’s hotels are varied enough to please all manner of tastes. They do have one thing in common, though – the levels of quality and service they offer are simply world-beating...

The Hotels

The Hilton Park Lane (www.hilton.co.uk) is located

directly opposite Hyde Park, with its grand gardens,

boating lake and kilometres of cycling, jogging and

strolling paths. This lovely modern hotel has more

to offer than its central location however – starting

with the Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows

restaurant, which offers panoramic views over

the city. There is a first-class health club and spa

too – don’t miss out on their trademark four hand

massage – and of course beautiful rooms.

Nearby is the superb InterContinental Park Lane

(www.ichotelsgroup.com). This flagship hotel is

just across the road from Apsley house, the former

home of the Duke of Wellington, which is blessed

with the coolest address in the city – “Number one,

London.” The interiors are immaculately modern

and the facilities are second to none. As with all

Intercontinental properties, there is an emphasis

on outstanding food and drink – the signature

restaurant, Theo Randall at the Intercontinental, is

a brilliantly sparky, contemporary Italian hotspot

which mixes beautiful seasonal British ingredients

with Tuscan flair.

On the same prestigious strip as the Hilton and

the Intercontinental is the Four Seasons Park Lane

(www.fourseasons.com). Its decor is outrageously

lavish, and even hanging out for a coffee in the

lobby area – with its sink-in art deco seating and its

live pianist – is a treat. There are some particularly

exciting touches here, including a glass-walled

rooftop spa where you can get incredible views

with your expert rubdown. For a truly charming

stay book a garden suite, which comes with a

landscaped terrace overlooking a private garden, as

well as a lounge fit for a king.

When it comes to classic hotel names to conjure

with, there are few more powerful than The

Dorchester (www.thedorchester.com) a grand spot

which has been one of the favourite hangouts of

the great and good for over 80 years. There are no

fewer than seven separate food and drink outlets at

the Dorchester, the most exciting of which is Alain

Ducasse’s London residence. We are also huge fans

of the ‘Spatisserie’, an informal place to enjoy a

light lunch, indulgent afternoon tea, or just-baked

pastry before or after your soothing spa session.

The suites are enormous here and each come

decked out with individual style – for a real treat

book the famous Oliver Messel suite.

Right alongside the Dorchester in the name

london 101.indd 7 4/27/2011 3:40:53 PM

8 London 101

recognition stakes is The Ritz London (www.

theritzlondon.com). Like its Parisian counterpart,

the Ritz prides itself on providing beautiful

experiences to its guests. The decor is ostentatious,

vibrant and utterly gorgeous (you will feel like

a 19th-century aristocrat as you stride along the

gilded halls), and there is a dedicated valet service

on hand to meet your every need.

Joining the Dorchester and the Ritz in the

London hotel Hall of Fame is Claridges (www.

Claridges.co.uk), an art deco wonder whose fame

stretches back over a century. For a real thrill, book

one of the extraordinary new suites designed by the

legendary Diane von Furstenberg. These beauties

come with all the print-based style you’d expect

from this queen of fashion.

An equally major name on the London hotel

scene is The Savoy (www.fairmont.com/savoy),

which has been welcoming guests since 1889. It

recently underwent a £100 million restoration,

which mixed the gorgeous Edwardian interiors with

modern trimmings. Before heading to the Savoy

Grill (where else?) for dinner, stop for a cold juice at

the American Bar, which is something of a London

institution. Everything is taken care of for you at

the Savoy – the only decision you have to make is

whether to take a room with a river or a city view.

Another property that sits by the banks of

the mighty Thames is Plaza on the River (www.

plazaontheriver.com). This is the perfect venue if

you like to have your own space – Plaza specialises

in beautifully-made residences which have all the

comfort of a hotel coupled with all the freedom

of your own home. The two bedroom suites are

brilliant for families and benefit from excellent, well-

equipped kitchens where you can cook for yourself

if you tire of eating out.

Immaculate apartments are also the name of the

game at Cheval Residences (www.chevalresidences.

com), which has properties across London,

including Hyde Park gate in Knightsbridge as well

as at Gloucester Park. All are decorated in a smart

and welcoming style, designed to make you feel

immediately at home, and all are kitted out with

absolutely everything you could need to hit the

ground running.

If you want the best of London and the English

countryside all in one, look no further than

London Syon Park (www.londonsyonpark.com),

a marvellous development on the Sion house

Left: Claridge’s. Below: The Dorchester.

london 101.indd 8 4/26/2011 8:40:27 PM

London 101 11

imaginative artwork and the personal terraces with

birds eye views of the city, no expense has been

spared to make you feel relaxed and happy. For an

exciting dinner without having to leave your hotel,

check out new launch Quince, which serves up a

mouthwatering Eastern Mediterranean menu.

Meanwhile, for slick modern style and

impeccable service, there are few better choices

than the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel (www.

MandarinOriental.com/London). Not only is it

home to London’s hottest table, Dinner by Heston

Blumenthal (see the restaurants section for details),

but it also specialises in the art of relaxation,

with one of the best spas in the city. After your

wonderfully unwinding treatments, be sure to

spend some time in their astonishing amethyst

crystal steam room…

Situated in a grand old building, The Langham

(www.London.Langhamhotels.co.uk) is located

in the West End, mere minutes from the joys of

Regent, Oxford and Bond Streets. They don’t have

butlers here – they have ‘Langham service stylists’,

who perform the same role and are also incredibly

clued-up on the best things to do in the capital.

When you finally manage to tear yourself away

from your adorable hotel suite, your first port of call

must be Roux at the Landau, the hotel restaurant

which brings together Albert and Michel Roux,

those two legends of French cuisine. Unmissable.

Over in Westminster, 51 Buckingham Gate

(www.51-buckinghamgate.com) has both hotel and

serviced suite accommodation. It’s just around the

corner from Buckingham Palace – so it’s handy for

those popping in for tea with the Queen.

Zesty, hypermodern ‘urban spa’ The Sanderson

(www.sandersonlondon.com) has been designed by

Philippe Starck and built around a beautiful garden.

If you’re bored of classic London luxury, this is an

eye-opening and exciting place to stay.

Finally, one of our all-time favourites is the

Stafford London by Kempinski (www.Kempinski.

com). It has all the charm, style and elegance a

discerning traveller could want, plus imaginative

ideas that make it stand out from the crowd.

bmi recommends...London hotels have always taken the Full English

Breakfast very seriously – but they are also branching

out and providing more imaginative, less calorific

alternatives in an attempt to gain an edge over the

competition. There are some superb hotel breakfasts

on offer across the city. Some extraordinary options

picked out in a recent survey by Londonhotelsinsight.

com include lobster club sandwiches At The Lancaster

London (you can also enjoy honey made in their

rooftop hive); Haddock Monte Carlo at the Ritz

London; grilled sourdough topped with barbecue

mushrooms and Gorgonzola at the Zetter Hotel; and

miso soup at the Langham.

london 101.indd 11 4/26/2011 8:39:47 PM

10 London 101

Clockwise from bottom left: Four Seasons; The Kipling Suite at Brown’s; Dukes Hotel; 51 Buckingham Gate. Opposite page from top: Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel; The Langham.

estate – home of the Duke of Northumberland –

located seven miles outside the city centre. The

place is absolutely dripping with history, and sits in

wonderful 400-year-old grounds. The suites range

from Junior to Presidential, but all have that classic

feel of old-fashioned British elegance. This is the

most wonderful place to return to after a busy day

in the heart of the capital – you’ll feel like a blue

blooded noble coming back to their country retreat.

For a more modern, more central stay, check

out the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square

(www.Marriott.com) in Mayfair. Just a gentle

saunter from Oxford Circus, it is located in one of

London’s most beautiful old squares. But it is not

just the setting that delights – this hotel is also

home to Maze, a fabulous restaurant by Gordon

Ramsay, which also means that if you’re feeling too

lazy to go out, you can stay in your room and order

Gordon Ramsay room service. Superb!

There are some brilliant small hotels in the centre

of London, and Brown’s (www.browns hotel.com) is

one of our very favourites. Part of the Rocco Forte

collection, Brown’s lies in the heart of Mayfair and

offers individually decorated suites, a lovely spa,

and excellent private dining rooms. We love Brown’s

for its personal touches, including the quirky

selection of books in each room, the superb English

afternoon teas and the imaginative dishes at HIX at

the Albermarle, the in-house restaurant.

Another small hotel with tons of personality is

Dukes Hotel (www.dukeshotel.com). This boutique

spot in St James has over 100 years of experience,

and it shows. Rooms are sleek, modern and

comfortable, with some fabulous old-fashioned

twists in the furniture.

Over in Mayfair is the beautifully conceived St

James’s hotel and club (www.stjamesclubandhotel.

co.uk). Originally a hangout for the aristocracy,

St James’s boasts some of the very finest interior

decoration in London. It is geared up both for

business and for indulgence, with a great restaurant

for entertaining in – Seven Park Place, which has a

Michelin star and three AA rosettes – and superbly

comfy, individually designed rooms.

Just around the corner is The May Fair London

(www.theMayfairhotel.co.uk). A huge amount of

thought has gone into the guest amenities here,

from the gorgeous stand-alone granite baths to the

london 101.indd 10 4/26/2011 8:39:31 PM

London 101 11

imaginative artwork and the personal terraces with

birds eye views of the city, no expense has been

spared to make you feel relaxed and happy. For an

exciting dinner without having to leave your hotel,

check out new launch Quince, which serves up a

mouthwatering Eastern Mediterranean menu.

Meanwhile, for slick modern style and

impeccable service, there are few better choices

than the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel (www.

MandarinOriental.com/London). Not only is it

home to London’s hottest table, Dinner by Heston

Blumenthal (see the restaurants section for details),

but it also specialises in the art of relaxation,

with one of the best spas in the city. After your

wonderfully unwinding treatments, be sure to

spend some time in their astonishing amethyst

crystal steam room…

Situated in a grand old building, The Langham

(www.London.Langhamhotels.co.uk) is located

in the West End, mere minutes from the joys of

Regent, Oxford and Bond Streets. They don’t have

butlers here – they have ‘Langham service stylists’,

who perform the same role and are also incredibly

clued-up on the best things to do in the capital.

When you finally manage to tear yourself away

from your adorable hotel suite, your first port of call

must be Roux at the Landau, the hotel restaurant

which brings together Albert and Michel Roux,

those two legends of French cuisine. Unmissable.

Over in Westminster, 51 Buckingham Gate

(www.51-buckinghamgate.com) has both hotel and

serviced suite accommodation. It’s just around the

corner from Buckingham Palace – so it’s handy for

those popping in for tea with the Queen.

Zesty, hypermodern ‘urban spa’ The Sanderson

(www.sandersonlondon.com) has been designed by

Philippe Starck and built around a beautiful garden.

If you’re bored of classic London luxury, this is an

eye-opening and exciting place to stay.

Finally, one of our all-time favourites is the

Stafford London by Kempinski (www.Kempinski.

com). It has all the charm, style and elegance a

discerning traveller could want, plus imaginative

ideas that make it stand out from the crowd.

bmi recommends...London hotels have always taken the Full English

Breakfast very seriously – but they are also branching

out and providing more imaginative, less calorific

alternatives in an attempt to gain an edge over the

competition. There are some superb hotel breakfasts

on offer across the city. Some extraordinary options

picked out in a recent survey by Londonhotelsinsight.

com include lobster club sandwiches At The Lancaster

London (you can also enjoy honey made in their

rooftop hive); Haddock Monte Carlo at the Ritz

London; grilled sourdough topped with barbecue

mushrooms and Gorgonzola at the Zetter Hotel; and

miso soup at the Langham.

london 101.indd 11 4/26/2011 8:39:47 PM

Regional SaleS & MaRketing office – Me & gcctel: 00971 2 4995613 eMail: [email protected] theMayfaiRhotel.co.uk

RE0440_MF_Leisure_TTG_Luxury_370x280_AW.indd 1 26/1/11 15:09:04

Regional SaleS & MaRketing office – Me & gcctel: 00971 2 4995613 eMail: [email protected] theMayfaiRhotel.co.uk

RE0440_MF_Leisure_TTG_Luxury_370x280_AW.indd 1 26/1/11 15:09:04

Untitled-4 1 4/27/2011 4:22:57 PM

London 101 13

London is one of the greatest shopping centres on earth, as much for the sheer diversity of choice as for the quality. If you try to cover all of the major shopping districts you’ll be exhausted in no time – so pick one store or area and shop til you drop from there...

The Shopping

The one and a half mile long Oxford Street is the

heart of London’s shopping experience. Along this

lengthy boulevard you will find flagship stores of

designer and high-street brands alike, running from

Marble Arch at one end to Tottenham Court Road at

the other. You could happily spend a couple of days

working your way through all the options – and

many people do exactly that. Particular highlights

include the enormous John Lewis store, the gigantic

Top Shop, Nike Town, expansive Debenhams, House

of Fraser, Zara, Primark and Gap.

One store that deserves particular mention

is Selfridge’s, a vast, multi-layered temple of

commercialism, where the service is personal and

the products feel like they’ve been picked out

just for you by a particularly stylish friend. Major

standouts include 7 For All Mankind, Alexander

McQueen, Diane von Furstenberg, J Brand, Joseph,

Juicy Couture, Karen Millen and Marc by Marc

Jacobs. Men, meanwhile, will love the array of great

chaps’ boutiques – set them loose on Alexander

McQueen, Barbour, Death by Zero, G Star, Hugo

Boss, Lyle & Scott, Paul Smith and Ralph Lauren.

Not far from Selfridge’s, on the intersecting

Regent Street (also home to world famous toy store

Hamleys), is Liberty, which is regularly voted the

best place to shop in the city. Housed in a timber-

clad Tudor building, it is – along with Harrods

in Knightsbridge – London’s most upmarket

department store. The lovely thing about Liberty is

that you won’t find most of their products on sale

elsewhere – they source everything uniquely, which

means you can pick up a real one-off item. A visit

to Harrods, meanwhie, remains obligatory. And if

you don’t want to mingle with the crowds, try the

store’s personal shopping service, By Appointment,

where a team of in-the-know personal consultants

will guide both men and women towards the most

extravagant of purchases in-store and out.

If you prefer working your way round a series

of small spots rather than hitting the big flagships

and department stores, you’ll love shopping in

Covent Garden. Centred around a large square

lined with cool and offbeta shops, Covent Garden

has a market at its centre where quirky gift stores

and imaginative food shops share space with up-

and-coming jewellery designers and vendors of

sweet-smelling bath products. Shopping in Covent

london 101.indd 13 5/1/2011 9:17:07 AM

London 101 13

London is one of the greatest shopping centres on earth, as much for the sheer diversity of choice as for the quality. If you try to cover all of the major shopping districts you’ll be exhausted in no time – so pick one store or area and shop til you drop from there...

The Shopping

The one and a half mile long Oxford Street is the

heart of London’s shopping experience. Along this

lengthy boulevard you will find flagship stores of

designer and high-street brands alike, running from

Marble Arch at one end to Tottenham Court Road at

the other. You could happily spend a couple of days

working your way through all the options – and

many people do exactly that. Particular highlights

include the enormous John Lewis store, the gigantic

Top Shop, Nike Town, expansive Debenhams, House

of Fraser, Zara, Primark and Gap.

One store that deserves particular mention

is Selfridge’s, a vast, multi-layered temple of

commercialism, where the service is personal and

the products feel like they’ve been picked out

just for you by a particularly stylish friend. Major

standouts include 7 For All Mankind, Alexander

McQueen, Diane von Furstenberg, J Brand, Joseph,

Juicy Couture, Karen Millen and Marc by Marc

Jacobs. Men, meanwhile, will love the array of great

chaps’ boutiques – set them loose on Alexander

McQueen, Barbour, Death by Zero, G Star, Hugo

Boss, Lyle & Scott, Paul Smith and Ralph Lauren.

Not far from Selfridge’s, on the intersecting

Regent Street (also home to world famous toy store

Hamleys), is Liberty, which is regularly voted the

best place to shop in the city. Housed in a timber-

clad Tudor building, it is – along with Harrods

in Knightsbridge – London’s most upmarket

department store. The lovely thing about Liberty is

that you won’t find most of their products on sale

elsewhere – they source everything uniquely, which

means you can pick up a real one-off item. A visit

to Harrods, meanwhie, remains obligatory. And if

you don’t want to mingle with the crowds, try the

store’s personal shopping service, By Appointment,

where a team of in-the-know personal consultants

will guide both men and women towards the most

extravagant of purchases in-store and out.

If you prefer working your way round a series

of small spots rather than hitting the big flagships

and department stores, you’ll love shopping in

Covent Garden. Centred around a large square

lined with cool and offbeta shops, Covent Garden

has a market at its centre where quirky gift stores

and imaginative food shops share space with up-

and-coming jewellery designers and vendors of

sweet-smelling bath products. Shopping in Covent

london 101.indd 13 5/1/2011 9:17:07 AM

14 London 101

Garden is a real experience – there are always street

performers and entertainers, including actors who

dress up as metallic statues, fire breathers and

daredevil jugglers. There are also tons of brilliant

cafes and restaurants where you can stop and

compare purchases over a delicious bite to eat.

One of Covent Garden’s most popular spots is

the Apple Store. Open for just a matter of months,

it is home to all the very latest products from the

Californian computing giant. It is a highly interactive

place, where visitors are encouraged to play with

the computers, listen to music on the iPads, and

surf the net on iPhones. Upstairs there is a software

store selling all the programs you need to get

started, as well as a Mac surgery where you can

take a lesson in how to get the most out of your

new computer, or bring in a faulty one for repair.

Bond Street has long been synonymous with

opulence, wealth and beautiful jewellery. It is the

London base for the world’s biggest and oldest

jewellery brands, including Cartier, Van Kleef and

Arpels, Tiffany, De Beers, Aspreys and Boodles.

Bond Street is also the home of renowned auction

house Sotheby’s, which sells sculptures, paintings,

handicrafts, jewellery and musical instruments from

around the world. You are welcome to go in and

look at the exhibition of their upcoming auctions

– a lovely way to spend an hour or two. And if

it’s clothing you’re after, why not pop in to Gucci,

Burberry or Ralph Lauren?

Westfield caused quite a stir in West London

when it opened a couple of years ago. Until then

there had been no major mall on offer, so shoppers

were delighted at the arrival of this huge and

beautiful centre. It will remind you of a mall in Dubai

in terms of its design and layout – lots of light, open

space, big atriums and streets, and plenty of public

space to relax in. Westfield does a particularly good

line in children’s fashion, but it is also brilliant for

adult designerware – don’t miss out on the “Village”

section, where you will find House of Fraser and

dozens of smaller boutiques all clustered together.

‘Away from the city’s department stores, Vivienne Westwood, at World’s End along the King’s Road, is a sight to behold’

Clockwise from left: Camden Market; Camden High Street; Portobello Road.

london 101.indd 14 5/1/2011 9:17:17 AM

London 101 17

Left: Harrod’s;Below: Westfield shopping centre.

bmi recommends...If you’re short on time and have some specific shopping

you need to get done while you’re in London, why not

use one of the personal shopping services offered by

most of the big department stores? They can help you

cut out hours of trawling round the shops and give

you expert personal recommendations which will

save you time - and maybe even money too. There

is a dedicated personal shopping service at House

of Fraser, which also offers a complimentary style

consultation; at Harrods, the BY APPOINTMENT and

Beyond services help you get to grips with their seven

sprawling floors of products; and at Liberty, they offer

a service which prides itself on its personal approach

and honest advice.

A more refined foodie shopping experience is on

offer at Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly, the food hall

par excellence and the ideal place to go if you need

a gourmet gift that’s guaranteed to impress. One of

the most popular items on sale in the classic food

hamper – you can construct your ideal mix of luxury

gourmet goods according to the tastes of the lucky

recipient, and it will all be brought together in a

collectable wicker basket, stamped with the name

of the store.

Bibliophiles will fall in love instantly with Charing

Cross Road. Filled from top to tail with beautiful

bookstores, this road is the place to come to stock

up your library. Whether you’re shopping for new

books at the gigantic Foyles or Blackwells, or

browsing through ancient tomes in the myriad

second-hand stores, you’re sure to find plenty of

exciting possibilities. The small streets which spider

off Charing Cross Road are worth exploring too. On

them you’ll find bookstores specialising in the most

beautiful old books, prints and maps. While a trip

down these alleyways may prove expensive, it will

do wonders for your intellect and general sense of

wellbeing. And for a beautifully-curated selection of

magazines, make sure to stop by Magma Books on

Earlham Street - they also do great posters.

With branches across London, high-class

perfumerie Penhaligon’s has been in business

since the 1870s. It’s the most fantastic place for

gift shopping – there are none of your celebrity

scents here, just wonderfully exotic and mysterious

colognes whose recipes stretch back centuries.

Naturally, they come beautifully wrapped.

london 101.indd 17 4/27/2011 3:45:41 PM

16 London 101

When it comes to relaxation, there is a great ice-

skating rink and a large cinema plus an al fresco

strip of restaurants including Jamie Oliver’s famous

Italian outpost.

If you’re looking for a long-lasting souvenir of

your time in London, why not head over to Savile

Row? It has long been the home of the city’s most

talented tailors, who will measure you up and

create a bespoke suit for you in just a few days.

You can choose from the most astonishing spread

of different materials – although the classic choice

would be a pinstripe – and the service makes you

feel like you’re an archduke for the day. It’s not just

men who can get fitted up – there are also tailors

who create beautiful suits for women.

Once you have secured your new outfit you’ll

need some high-quality shoes to go with it. Look

no further than Church’s – the cobbler of choice

for generations of high-powered executives

and blue-blooded aristocrats. The shoes are of

such high quality that they come with a lifetime

guarantee – take them back at any time and they

will be re-soled for you at no extra cost. This means

that while the initial investment is high, in the

long-term the shoes end up paying for themselves.

You can specify the design of your choice, but

you’re better off taking direction from the on-site

experts, who can match your footwear with your

lovely new suit. Meanwhile, if your tastes are more

funky than traditional, you should check out Black

Truffle in Broadway Market, which has an unusual

and eclectic mix of boots, sandals, loafers, wedges

trainers and Mary Janes - as well as a selection of

vegan shoes.

Borough Market deserves its own dedicated

entry for having established itself as one of the

foodie centres of London town. Every Friday

and Saturday throughout the year its winding

alleyways are filled with dozens and dozens of

stalls selling everything from gourmet pies and

specialty cheeses to roast beef baguettes and the

world’s best banana cake. You could very happily

spend two hours munching your way around this

marvellous market, trying scores of samples from

the friendly and talkative stall owners, and loading

your bags down with unmissable and intriguing

treats from the four corners of the UK. This is also

the perfect refuelling spot for anyone spending the

morning at the Tate modern – it’s just 10 minutes

walk away along the Thames.

Left: Selfridges.Below: Soho.

london 101.indd 16 4/27/2011 3:45:26 PM

London 101 17

Left: Harrod’s;Below: Westfield shopping centre.

bmi recommends...If you’re short on time and have some specific shopping

you need to get done while you’re in London, why not

use one of the personal shopping services offered by

most of the big department stores? They can help you

cut out hours of trawling round the shops and give

you expert personal recommendations which will

save you time - and maybe even money too. There

is a dedicated personal shopping service at House

of Fraser, which also offers a complimentary style

consultation; at Harrods, the BY APPOINTMENT and

Beyond services help you get to grips with their seven

sprawling floors of products; and at Liberty, they offer

a service which prides itself on its personal approach

and honest advice.

A more refined foodie shopping experience is on

offer at Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly, the food hall

par excellence and the ideal place to go if you need

a gourmet gift that’s guaranteed to impress. One of

the most popular items on sale in the classic food

hamper – you can construct your ideal mix of luxury

gourmet goods according to the tastes of the lucky

recipient, and it will all be brought together in a

collectable wicker basket, stamped with the name

of the store.

Bibliophiles will fall in love instantly with Charing

Cross Road. Filled from top to tail with beautiful

bookstores, this road is the place to come to stock

up your library. Whether you’re shopping for new

books at the gigantic Foyles or Blackwells, or

browsing through ancient tomes in the myriad

second-hand stores, you’re sure to find plenty of

exciting possibilities. The small streets which spider

off Charing Cross Road are worth exploring too. On

them you’ll find bookstores specialising in the most

beautiful old books, prints and maps. While a trip

down these alleyways may prove expensive, it will

do wonders for your intellect and general sense of

wellbeing. And for a beautifully-curated selection of

magazines, make sure to stop by Magma Books on

Earlham Street - they also do great posters.

With branches across London, high-class

perfumerie Penhaligon’s has been in business

since the 1870s. It’s the most fantastic place for

gift shopping – there are none of your celebrity

scents here, just wonderfully exotic and mysterious

colognes whose recipes stretch back centuries.

Naturally, they come beautifully wrapped.

london 101.indd 17 4/27/2011 3:45:41 PM

London 101 19

A second French brasserie of note is Les

Deux Salons (020 7420 2050), run by the same

team who operate the ever-excellent Arbutus

(020 7734 4545). Open for just a few months,

it has already become the restaurant of choice

for businessmen entertaining clients in Soho.

It’s a reliable choice if you’re in the mood for a

steak-frites, cassoulet or a pot of delicious moules

marinieres. The dining room is decked out in the

very best Parisian style with plenty of gleaming

chrome, comfy banquettes and polished mirrors.

Meanwhile if you find yourself with a craving for

gallic cuisine when in West London, you should

try the superb La Trompette (020 8747 1836),

which has a name for its sumptuous seafood and

bafflingly extensive cheeseboard.

For more modern European fare, hit The

River Cafe (020 7386 4200), the place where

Jamie Oliver got his big break on camera. It is

restlessly inventive with its dishes, updating its

menus on a near constant basis, and putting

out regular cookbooks which grace the kitchen

shelves of well-to-do amateur chefs across the

country. Similarly brilliant is Theo Randall at the

InterContinental (020 7318 8747), whose new

wave take on Italian cuisine is unstoppably good.

Another European favourite is Chez Bruce

(020 8672 0114). Getting there means a little

bit of a trek out of central London, but it’s well

worth the visit to Wandsworth. One of Britain’s

most talented and least feted chefs, Bruce runs

a surprisingly affordable gourmet establishment

which Gordon Ramsay has cited as one of his

favourites. Whether you go for one of the special

menus or strike out with à la carte, you can be

assured of eating some of the most sophisticated

European food in Britain. At the weekends CB is

filled with local families and is a lovely place to go

with your kids.

When you can’t resist your carnivorous

cravings, take your appetite from meat to Covent

Garden where you will find Sophie’s Steakhouse

(020 7836 8836). The meat here is served in

outrageously large portions – last time we dined

at Sophie’s we worked our way through a 32

ounce steak with three separate trimmings. There

are plenty of other options, including lobster and

some particularly fine gourmet burgers but the

real must-try here is the sirloin, fillet and T-bone

section. Beware when ordering side dishes here –

london 101.indd 19 4/26/2011 8:40:27 PM

18 London 101

When picking restaurants to try in London,

many visitors head straight for one of Gordon

Ramsay’s clutch of outlets. It’s certainly true

that they offer wonderful food and excellent

service – provided you don’t accidentally irritate

their famously shoutie owner. Gordon Ramsay

at Claridge’s (020 7499 0099) and Petrus (020

7592 1609) are both fantastic dining options, but

once you’ve paid homage to the master of Hell’s

Kitchen, you’ll find there are hundreds of other

exciting restaurants to choose from.

Take Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the

Mandarin Oriental (020 7201 3833), for example,

one of the most exciting new restaurants to open

in 2011. Famous for his outlandish creations at

the Fat Duck in Bray, Blumenthal has now turned

his attentions to the capital. The views out over

Hyde Park are fantastic, but even better is the

extraordinary mix of historic English dishes which

populate the menu. Heston has ploughed through

dozens of centuries-old recipe books to create

dishes such as the Meat Fruit – which looks exactly

like an orange despite the fact that it’s made of

a delicate chicken liver mousse. Other creations

include spiced pigeon and taffety tart, and a

nitrogen-fuelled ice cream cart does the rounds

for dessert.

From the experimental to the hyper-traditional:

Rules restaurant (020 7836 5314) is an incredible

treat for anybody who loves fine old English food.

Rules is London’s oldest restaurant and has been

a haunt for the great and good for centuries. Its

decoration reminds you of the gentlemen’s clubs

described in Jeeves and Wooster novels, and the

food is similarly decadent. All the key ingredients

come from Rules’ very own estate in Scotland,

and they are of superb quality. Expect to enjoy the

likes of delicious tender roast beef with enormous

Yorkshire puddings, brackish potted shrimp and

the best steak and oyster pies in the country.

If you prefer traditional French to traditional

British, try Poule au Pot (020 7730 7763), a rustic

French eatery just off Sloane Square. This is the

place to try out some specialities you’ve always

wanted to taste but haven’t been brave enough.

The bouillabaisse is a particular star, filled with

tender juicy fish and set in a sauce so dramatically

powerful it ought to receive an Oscar. The

rabbit cooked in three different ways is another

unmissable event.

In London you can eat your way around the world without going outside the M25 – and whether it’s cute independent delis, exotic far eastern eateries or high profile celebrity chef haunts you love, you’ll find your perfect place here.

The Restaurants

london 101.indd 18 4/26/2011 8:40:22 PM

London 101 19

A second French brasserie of note is Les

Deux Salons (020 7420 2050), run by the same

team who operate the ever-excellent Arbutus

(020 7734 4545). Open for just a few months,

it has already become the restaurant of choice

for businessmen entertaining clients in Soho.

It’s a reliable choice if you’re in the mood for a

steak-frites, cassoulet or a pot of delicious moules

marinieres. The dining room is decked out in the

very best Parisian style with plenty of gleaming

chrome, comfy banquettes and polished mirrors.

Meanwhile if you find yourself with a craving for

gallic cuisine when in West London, you should

try the superb La Trompette (020 8747 1836),

which has a name for its sumptuous seafood and

bafflingly extensive cheeseboard.

For more modern European fare, hit The

River Cafe (020 7386 4200), the place where

Jamie Oliver got his big break on camera. It is

restlessly inventive with its dishes, updating its

menus on a near constant basis, and putting

out regular cookbooks which grace the kitchen

shelves of well-to-do amateur chefs across the

country. Similarly brilliant is Theo Randall at the

InterContinental (020 7318 8747), whose new

wave take on Italian cuisine is unstoppably good.

Another European favourite is Chez Bruce

(020 8672 0114). Getting there means a little

bit of a trek out of central London, but it’s well

worth the visit to Wandsworth. One of Britain’s

most talented and least feted chefs, Bruce runs

a surprisingly affordable gourmet establishment

which Gordon Ramsay has cited as one of his

favourites. Whether you go for one of the special

menus or strike out with à la carte, you can be

assured of eating some of the most sophisticated

European food in Britain. At the weekends CB is

filled with local families and is a lovely place to go

with your kids.

When you can’t resist your carnivorous

cravings, take your appetite from meat to Covent

Garden where you will find Sophie’s Steakhouse

(020 7836 8836). The meat here is served in

outrageously large portions – last time we dined

at Sophie’s we worked our way through a 32

ounce steak with three separate trimmings. There

are plenty of other options, including lobster and

some particularly fine gourmet burgers but the

real must-try here is the sirloin, fillet and T-bone

section. Beware when ordering side dishes here –

london 101.indd 19 4/26/2011 8:40:27 PM

London 101 21

they come in portions suitable for the BFG.

There’s some brilliant Italian cuisine in London

– and many people will tell you that Bocca

di Lupo (020 7734 2223) is the best Italian

restaurant around. It’s certainly a contender, but

we’ve recently been won over by a less obvious

choice. London is remarkably short on Sardinian

restaurants, in fact there’s only one – Sardo (020

7387 2521) – which is tucked away down a side

road by Warren Street tube station. Happily, it

does the island’s cuisine full justice. Start with

the exquisite fish carpaccio then move on to one

of their rich, warming risottos and finish with a

battery of Sardinian cheeses: bliss.

Meanwhile, when it comes to pizza there is

categorically no better place to visit then Franco

Manca. There are two branches of this legendary

pizzeria in London – the small original outlet in

Brixton market (0207 738 3021), and the more

sophisticated restaurant on Chiswick High Street

(020 8747 4822). The pizza they serve is cooked

in authentic woodfired ovens, and has that

perfect mix of chewy, slightly charred and crisp

edged base, rich, powerful tomato sauce, high-

quality mozzarella, and a sprinkling of the most

deliciously fresh toppings.

If you’re in the mood for a relaxed Saturday

or Sunday lunch by the Thames, make your way

to Tom’s Kitchen in Somerset House (0207 845

4646). This elongated restaurant is split into

several different sunlit dining rooms, all of which

have brilliant views out over the river. The menu

is simple and crammed with classic comfort food.

Whether you order Tom’s burger, the enormous

fish and chips or the delicate beetroot and feta

salad, you’ll be delighted with your choice. There

are always fascinating exhibitions going on at

Somerset house too, so once you’ve polished

off a sticky toffee pudding and enjoyed a freshly

brewed coffee, you can wander downstairs for

some cultural enlightenment.

Another great place if you’re in the mood for

a quick and delicious gourmet dinner is Busaba

Eathai (020 7255 8686), situated on Wardour

Street. Diners sit at long shared wooden tables

and order from a marvellous mix of noodles, Thai

Previous page: Petrus. This page from left to right: Les Deux Salons; Pasta dish with sweet peppers, feta cheese and olives.

london 101.indd 21 4/26/2011 8:41:01 PM

A NEW ANGLE ONURBAN LUXURY

Completely redesigned for the 21st century, the London Marriott Grosvenor Square offers an experience no other hotel can match. Step out of your suite and bask by the fi replace in your own private garden. Take in a West End show or indulge in the boutiques of Mayfair. Revel in the spacious luxury of our exclusive Club Lounge. Or enjoy exquisite dining from Gordon Ramsay at Michelin-starred maze, the relaxed maze Grill, exclusive Private Dining or even in your room.

Experience the shape of hotels to come.

The London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London W1K 6JP

For hotel bookings For Gordon Ramsay dining reservationsT: +44 (0) 20 7493 1232 maze: +44 (0) 20 7107 0000F: +44 (0) 20 7514 1528 maze Grill: +44 (0) 20 7495 2211

marriottgrosvenorsquare.com

Untitled-3 1 4/21/2010 4:58:15 PM

London 101 21

they come in portions suitable for the BFG.

There’s some brilliant Italian cuisine in London

– and many people will tell you that Bocca

di Lupo (020 7734 2223) is the best Italian

restaurant around. It’s certainly a contender, but

we’ve recently been won over by a less obvious

choice. London is remarkably short on Sardinian

restaurants, in fact there’s only one – Sardo (020

7387 2521) – which is tucked away down a side

road by Warren Street tube station. Happily, it

does the island’s cuisine full justice. Start with

the exquisite fish carpaccio then move on to one

of their rich, warming risottos and finish with a

battery of Sardinian cheeses: bliss.

Meanwhile, when it comes to pizza there is

categorically no better place to visit then Franco

Manca. There are two branches of this legendary

pizzeria in London – the small original outlet in

Brixton market (0207 738 3021), and the more

sophisticated restaurant on Chiswick High Street

(020 8747 4822). The pizza they serve is cooked

in authentic woodfired ovens, and has that

perfect mix of chewy, slightly charred and crisp

edged base, rich, powerful tomato sauce, high-

quality mozzarella, and a sprinkling of the most

deliciously fresh toppings.

If you’re in the mood for a relaxed Saturday

or Sunday lunch by the Thames, make your way

to Tom’s Kitchen in Somerset House (0207 845

4646). This elongated restaurant is split into

several different sunlit dining rooms, all of which

have brilliant views out over the river. The menu

is simple and crammed with classic comfort food.

Whether you order Tom’s burger, the enormous

fish and chips or the delicate beetroot and feta

salad, you’ll be delighted with your choice. There

are always fascinating exhibitions going on at

Somerset house too, so once you’ve polished

off a sticky toffee pudding and enjoyed a freshly

brewed coffee, you can wander downstairs for

some cultural enlightenment.

Another great place if you’re in the mood for

a quick and delicious gourmet dinner is Busaba

Eathai (020 7255 8686), situated on Wardour

Street. Diners sit at long shared wooden tables

and order from a marvellous mix of noodles, Thai

Previous page: Petrus. This page from left to right: Les Deux Salons; Pasta dish with sweet peppers, feta cheese and olives.

london 101.indd 21 4/26/2011 8:41:01 PM

London 101 23

halal eatery with a swift turnaround in a

surprisingly basic space whose menu is short and

offers little diversity and whose service can be

disconcertingly abrupt. Despite all this it remains

one of Islington’s most popular restaurants, with

devotees returning regularly to experience the

authentic cuisine – make sure to order one of their

last loaves of shareable bread with your meal. You

can also get excellent halal food at Pasha (020

7589 7969), a Moroccan restaurant in Kensington.

When it comes to gourmet areas, Exmouth

Market is one of those streets that in the know

Londoners rave about. It’s lined with outstanding

restaurants and cafes, including Caravan (020

7833 8115), The Ambassador (020 7837 0009)

and Sade (020 7833 1111), but none has a better

reputation than Moro (020 7833 8336). The tables

here are packed closely together and every night

they are filled with happy diners enjoying its

imaginative Moroccan–Mediterranean cuisine.

Another district beloved by true gourmets is

Opposite page: The River Cafe. This page clockwise from bottom left: Hakkasan; Chez Bruce; Crab at Petrus; Dinner by Heston Blumenthal.

Edgware Road, an avenue lined with an unfeasible

number of Middle Eastern eateries and where the

Lebanese food is particularly good.

bmi recommends...One dining trend that’s becoming increasingly popular is

the phenomenon of chefs’ tables. Book in to one of these

and you’ll eat at a special table in the kitchen, surrounded

by all the action, and will have the dishes described and

presented to you by the chef, who will also join you for

part of the meal. You’ll find this service on offer at many

restaurants - some of the most prestigious are at Marcus

Wareing at the Berkeley (www.the-berkeley.co.uk),

Gordon Ramsay at The London (www.gordonramsay.

com) and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (www.

dinnerbyheston.com).

london 101.indd 23 4/26/2011 8:41:15 PM

22 London 101

curries and stir fries. The thing that really gets our

gourmet pulse jumping, though, is the prospect of

the house special; calamari cooked in garlic and a

marvellous spice mix it has a flavour so good that

if you order a bowl to share you may well fall out

with your dining companion over who gets the

last piece.

Meanwhile, if you prefer your Thai food

gourmet, rather than cheap and cheerful, you

should book yourself in for an evening at Nahm

at the Halkin (020 7333 1234), the city’s only

Michelin-starred Thai restaurant. For Vietnamese

food, try Pho (020 7253 7624), a small but

perfectly-formed eatery in Clerkenwell, where

there’s often a queue streaming out the door in a

bid to sample the gorgeous rice paper rolls and

immaculate noodle soups, its stock in trade.

For Chinese food, it has to be Hakasan (020

7927 7000), a Michelin-starred restaurant in the

heart of Soho. It’s known for having some of the

best dim sum this side of Hong Kong and is best

experienced at dinner time, when the low lighting,

beautiful bar, and slick decoration come into

their own. While you could happily limit yourself

to just dim sum, this would be a mistake – the

imaginative dishes from across China are perfectly

prepared – we still have very happy memories of

their unbeatable Peking duck.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to

experience Nobu’s (020 7290 9222) greatness

in his Dubai restaurant at Atlantis, The Palm,

you simply must make time to visit the London

chapter. Nobu’s modern Japanese cuisine is so

exciting that it has spawned a host of imitators,

but there’s still no one who does it quite as well

as him. The sushi, maki, yakitori grills and slivers

of beef carpaccio are all outstanding, but the

real gourmet crown goes to the highly popular

black cod in miso sauce, a creation of genius with

multiple seams of rich flavour.

Another intriguing spot is the Afghan Kitchen

(020 7359 8019) in Islington. It’s a no-nonsense

‘If you prefer your Thai food gourmet, rather than cheap and cheerful, you should book yourself in for an evening at Nahm’

london 101.indd 22 4/26/2011 8:41:07 PM

London 101 23

halal eatery with a swift turnaround in a

surprisingly basic space whose menu is short and

offers little diversity and whose service can be

disconcertingly abrupt. Despite all this it remains

one of Islington’s most popular restaurants, with

devotees returning regularly to experience the

authentic cuisine – make sure to order one of their

last loaves of shareable bread with your meal. You

can also get excellent halal food at Pasha (020

7589 7969), a Moroccan restaurant in Kensington.

When it comes to gourmet areas, Exmouth

Market is one of those streets that in the know

Londoners rave about. It’s lined with outstanding

restaurants and cafes, including Caravan (020

7833 8115), The Ambassador (020 7837 0009)

and Sade (020 7833 1111), but none has a better

reputation than Moro (020 7833 8336). The tables

here are packed closely together and every night

they are filled with happy diners enjoying its

imaginative Moroccan–Mediterranean cuisine.

Another district beloved by true gourmets is

Opposite page: The River Cafe. This page clockwise from bottom left: Hakkasan; Chez Bruce; Crab at Petrus; Dinner by Heston Blumenthal.

Edgware Road, an avenue lined with an unfeasible

number of Middle Eastern eateries and where the

Lebanese food is particularly good.

bmi recommends...One dining trend that’s becoming increasingly popular is

the phenomenon of chefs’ tables. Book in to one of these

and you’ll eat at a special table in the kitchen, surrounded

by all the action, and will have the dishes described and

presented to you by the chef, who will also join you for

part of the meal. You’ll find this service on offer at many

restaurants - some of the most prestigious are at Marcus

Wareing at the Berkeley (www.the-berkeley.co.uk),

Gordon Ramsay at The London (www.gordonramsay.

com) and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (www.

dinnerbyheston.com).

london 101.indd 23 4/26/2011 8:41:15 PM

24 London 101

The Culture

The British capital is blessed with the world’s

very finest collection of museums. That’s no

mere hyperbole – while others can boast bigger

museums, more modern museums and wealthier

museums, London takes the trophy in terms of

sheer range and quality. There’s even a dedicated

Museum of London.

If you’re making a priority list, then these are

the cultural icons that should be at the very top.

Let’s start with the Tate Modern. Housed in a

former power station on the south bank of the

Thames, this soaring redbrick creation has become

famed for the incredible interactive displays in

its voluminous turbine Hall. Most recently the hall

has been filled with tens of millions of ceramic

sunflower seeds created by Chinese artist Ai

Weiwei, but in the past it has also been blessed

with a huge fake crack which seemed to split the

concrete floor from end to end, a ceiling filled

with mirrors, which encouraged visitors to lie on

their backs and make shapes at the sky, and a

series of fairground-style, whirly-go-rounds which

visitors could use to plummet from the fifth floor

to the ground. Once you’re beyond the entrance

hall, you’ll find floor upon floor of modern art

ranging from the genre–twistingly bizarre to the

frustratingly pretentious – check out the ripped

canvas entitled ‘Ripped canvas’ – to the sublimely

beautiful on display.

If you like your art more traditional, get

yourself over to Tate Britain, a repository of the

nation’s finest artists over the last millennium

or so. Like the Tate Modern, entrance is free of

charge, although visitors are encouraged to

give a donation. The best way to get between

the two Tates is by taking the dedicated Tate

riverboat, which will motor you from modernism

to traditionalism in around 20 minutes.

Once you’re at the Tate Modern you are just

a short walk away from the National Portrait

Gallery. Perched on the side of Trafalgar Square,

this labyrinthine institution is dedicated to

collecting portraits of famous and esteemed faces

from around the world. These range from galleries

filled with pictures of 16th century dukes and earls

to corridors lined with stunning photographs of

modern day celebrities. Make sure not to miss out

on Lucien Freud’s famous – and, some would say,

rather unflattering – portrait of her Majesty the

Queen.

You could happily spend an entire holiday wandering round the tens of thousands of exhibits in London’s key museums and cultural spaces alone – but that wouldn’t leave you enough time for shopping, beautiful meals and sightseeing. Allow us to pick out the best for you...

london 101.indd 24 4/26/2011 8:41:15 PM

London 101 25

If history is more your thing, there is nowhere

more fascinating than the Cabinet War Rooms.

It was from this nest of small chambers buried

underneath Whitehall that Churchill and his

ministers directed the early years of the Second

World War. The first thing that strikes you about

the War Rooms is that they are incredibly small

and equipped with technology so basic – maps

with pins in them, banks of different-coloured

telephones – that you have to marvel at the fact

that this small band of planners could control their

Army and Navy at a distance, let alone end up

winning the conflict. Attach to the Cabinet War

Rooms is the Churchill Museum, which is filled

with intriguing artefacts from the war leader’s

war years. Churchill had an extraordinary life,

perhaps best captured in a cartoon on display

here, which shows the man on his 90th birthday

being toasted by versions of himself throughout

the years – the journalist, the soldier, the junior

minister, the opposition MP, and the cigar–toting

elder statesman. There is also the adult sized

romper suit that Churchill commissioned and used

to wear while roaming the war rooms – he had

decided that if he was going to work 18 hours a

day, he wanted to be comfortable doing it. But

his eccentricity did not stop there – legend has it

that during the Blitz, and much to the horror of

his staff, Churchill used to climb onto the roof of

this building to watch the bombs rain down on

London. This is the sort of exhibit which gives you

a major insight into what it is possible to achieve

in one human life.

While the undisputed hero of 20th-century

Britain brought us the joys of the Cabinet War

Rooms, it was the Victorians who really laid down

Britain’s major cultural heritage. This acquisitive

race spent their reign and their influence dashing

round the world picking up interesting objects –

sometimes much to the upset of the people who

originally owned them. Nowhere is this better in

evidence than at the British Museum, a repository

for pilfered items from across the British Empire.

The museum’s architecture is a mix of sturdy

Victorian stone and the beautiful glass dome

and open marble area created by legendary

Clockwise from left: The Imperial War Museum; Tate Britain; Shakespeare’s Globe.

london 101.indd 25 4/27/2011 3:46:47 PM

London 101 25

If history is more your thing, there is nowhere

more fascinating than the Cabinet War Rooms.

It was from this nest of small chambers buried

underneath Whitehall that Churchill and his

ministers directed the early years of the Second

World War. The first thing that strikes you about

the War Rooms is that they are incredibly small

and equipped with technology so basic – maps

with pins in them, banks of different-coloured

telephones – that you have to marvel at the fact

that this small band of planners could control their

Army and Navy at a distance, let alone end up

winning the conflict. Attach to the Cabinet War

Rooms is the Churchill Museum, which is filled

with intriguing artefacts from the war leader’s

war years. Churchill had an extraordinary life,

perhaps best captured in a cartoon on display

here, which shows the man on his 90th birthday

being toasted by versions of himself throughout

the years – the journalist, the soldier, the junior

minister, the opposition MP, and the cigar–toting

elder statesman. There is also the adult sized

romper suit that Churchill commissioned and used

to wear while roaming the war rooms – he had

decided that if he was going to work 18 hours a

day, he wanted to be comfortable doing it. But

his eccentricity did not stop there – legend has it

that during the Blitz, and much to the horror of

his staff, Churchill used to climb onto the roof of

this building to watch the bombs rain down on

London. This is the sort of exhibit which gives you

a major insight into what it is possible to achieve

in one human life.

While the undisputed hero of 20th-century

Britain brought us the joys of the Cabinet War

Rooms, it was the Victorians who really laid down

Britain’s major cultural heritage. This acquisitive

race spent their reign and their influence dashing

round the world picking up interesting objects –

sometimes much to the upset of the people who

originally owned them. Nowhere is this better in

evidence than at the British Museum, a repository

for pilfered items from across the British Empire.

The museum’s architecture is a mix of sturdy

Victorian stone and the beautiful glass dome

and open marble area created by legendary

Clockwise from left: The Imperial War Museum; Tate Britain; Shakespeare’s Globe.

london 101.indd 25 4/27/2011 3:46:47 PM

26 London 101

architect Sir Norman Foster. Spend the morning

wandering round and you will lose yourself in

ancient Roman sculptures, Egyptian mummies,

Far Eastern pottery and Middle Eastern jewellery,

all lovingly presented and documented. If you’re

feeling peckish halfway through, make a stop at

the excellent restaurant that sits just underneath

Foster’s cupola.

Further demonstration of the acquisitive nature

of the Victorians is on show at the V&A. You can’t

help but marvel at the shere number of exhibits on

offer here. Alongside sculpture and painting there

is the most fantastic permanent exhibit of royal

jewellery from around the world, a treasure trove

of sparkling gems and precious metals that makes

you wonder whether the British government

couldn’t sort out their deficit issue by simply

selling it off. There’s also a grand cafe whose

roof is covered in intricate imperial mosaics, and

a lovely old reading room lined with five-tier

mahogany bookcases, where visitors can stop and

collect their thoughts. Although if you really want

to see an impressive book collection, you should

head to the British Library, whose dozens of

reading rooms are open to the public, and which

regularly hosts fascinating exhibitions on books

and language.

Another fascinating cultural treasure trove is

the Imperial War Museum. Located south of the

river by Elephant and Castle, this place will give

you a crash course in the many and varied wars

engaged in by the British nation over the years.

The main hall is filled with war ambulances from

the First World War, V2 rockets from the Second,

tanks and planes used in the Falklands, and

armoured personnel carriers from Gulf War One.

There are superb permanent exhibitions on the

First World War, including a ‘Trench Experience’

where you can get a taste for the horrors of

Flanders, as well as wonderful collections

of personal memorabilia, propaganda, and

audiovisual clips.

‘If you like your art more traditional, get yourself over to Tate Britain, a repository of the nation’s finest artists’

london 101.indd 26 4/26/2011 8:41:29 PM

Advertisement Feature

Before you flyWe are the first British airline to offer an easy-to-use

mobile site (http://mobile.flybmi.com) that allows

you to book and pay for flights via your smartphone.

You can also use this site to check-in, which

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On arrivalIf you feel like freshening up once you’ve touched

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On departure London Heathrow’s Terminal 1 is home to our

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*In accordance with 2010 Corporate Reputation Index released by TNS.

bmi advertorial.indd 3 4/27/2011 7:20:19 PM

Advertisement Feature

Before you flyWe are the first British airline to offer an easy-to-use

mobile site (http://mobile.flybmi.com) that allows

you to book and pay for flights via your smartphone.

You can also use this site to check-in, which

means you can relax and enjoy our complimentary

chauffeur service to and from the airport in both

Saudi Arabia and London Heathrow. What’s more,

on the return leg of your trip you can check-in at

London Heathrow as late as 30 minutes before

your flight is due to depart and we’ll handle the

formalities for you.

InflightOne of the reasons we are ranked among the

UK’s leading airline brands is because of our

service quality, and once in the air you’ll get to truly

experience it. Let our renowned cabin crew tend to

your every need as you tuck into plates of fine food

prepared to order by our excellent onboard chef.

Then you can simply sleep it off in our fully flat bed.

On arrivalIf you feel like freshening up once you’ve touched

down in London you can head to bmi’s Arrival

Lounge, where you can have a piping-hot shower

and refreshments before you head into the city.

On departure London Heathrow’s Terminal 1 is home to our

international lounge, The Great British Lounge,

where you’ll enjoy supreme comfort and a fantastic

range of complimentary food and drink.

Fly Business Class aboard bmi British Midland International to London from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam and you’ll discover why we’re currently ranked one of the UK’s leading airline brands*

A Great British Service

*In accordance with 2010 Corporate Reputation Index released by TNS.

bmi advertorial.indd 3 4/27/2011 7:20:19 PM

London 101 29

The SightsThe Big Smoke is a living museum – everywhere you go you’ll see ancient buildings sitting cheek by jowl with sleek modern architecture. Be sure to bring a spare memory card – you’ll want to fill your camera up with pictures.

The seat of Her Majesty the Queen, Buckingham

Palace is an iconic building and an unmissable stop

on any self-respecting tourist’s visit. You can book

up to take a guided tour of the State Rooms on

certain days, which gives you a wonderful insight

into the grandeur and pageantry of royal life. You

must make sure to be around for one of the regular

‘changing of the guard’ ceremonies, too, when

soldiers dressed in breastplates and ceremonial hats

march their way to and from their guardposts. Once

you’re done checking out the heart of royal London,

take a wander in the surrounding St James’s Park,

which leads you up through leafy greenery to

Westminster Abbey.

The Abbey was originally founded in the 7th

century and has gone through several different

incarnations. It is the place in which British kings

and queens are married, crowned and buried and

saw the coronations of King Harold and William

the Conqueror, both in 1066. Queen Elizabeth was

married to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh here, as were –

more recently – Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Aside from the centuries-old whiff of history

that greets you when you enter, there are a lot of

beautiful stained glass windows to see, and some

enchanting old monuments – including tributes to

the fallen in pretty much every British battle for

the last millenium (which is a lot). In order to get

the most out of the Abbey, you should book a tour

guide, who will give you some fantastic insights its

rich history.

If you’re looking to sit back, people watch and

soak up a little atmosphere, grab yourself a seat at

Trafalgar Square. This great imperial square at the

heart of London is the site of all of the city’s big

demonstrations and celebrations. At its centre is

the 150 foot high Nelson’s column, topped with an

18 foot tall statue of Horatio Nelson, Britain’s most

famous Navy man. The four huge lions at the base

of the column were supposedly cast from bronze

cannons which were taken from the French fleet

during the Battle of Trafalgar. Directly behind you

is the wonderful National Gallery, and to your left is

the Strand, a famous old shopping street.

Up north, tacked on to the gigantic Regent’s

Park – which is worth an afternoon’s walkaround in

itself, with its lovely gardens and waterway as well

as its own dedicated theatre where great al fresco

plays take place in summertime – is London Zoo,

one of the biggest and best zoos in Europe. The

london 101.indd 29 4/26/2011 8:41:48 PM

28 London 101

Over at the Science Museum, meanwhile, you

can get a similarly in-depth briefing on major

science and technology breakthroughs of the

last century. This place is a major favourite with

families, as it’s home to the Wellcome Wing, which

has been designed to get kids excited about

science, with a host of interactive displays.

Another place your kids will love is the Clink

Prison Museum situated down on the South Bank

near Borough Market. This spooky spot stands on

the site of the notorious former prison and gives

a gruesome vision of what used to happen to

naughty Victorians. Kids will also love the brilliant

Sherlock Holmes Museum located, naturally, at

221B Baker Street.

When it comes to entertainment, you should

make sure to book tickets for the Royal Opera

house, which regularly hosts some of the world’s

biggest names in opera and ballet. You’d also

be well advised to book tickets in advance for a

coveted performance at Shakespeare’s Globe, the

beautiful re-creation of the great Bard’s original

Playhouse.

‘When it comes to entertainment, you should make sure to book tickets for the Royal Opera house, which regularly hosts some of the world’s biggest names in opera and ballet’

Finally, for a relaxed and engaging visit which

all the family can enjoy, make a beeline for the

Cartoon Museum. The UK has a long and infamous

history of cartooning, satire and caricature, and

it’s all housed here, where the sheer level of skill

on display is simply amazing.

bmi recommends...If you’re tired of the pace of life in the heart of the

city, why not calm things down with a lovely boat trip

out to Greenwich? Thames River Services (www.

thamesriverservices.co.uk) run regular trips to the area,

picking up from multiple stops en route. Once you arrive,

you’ll find a less crowded, more relaxed place with plenty

to do. The biggest attraction is the Royal Observatory,

home to the meridian line, the fascinating National

Maritime Museum and the beautiful 180 acre-large

Greenwich Park.

Previous page; National Portrait Gallery. This page from left: The Tate Modern and Millennium Bridge; British Museum.

london 101.indd 28 4/26/2011 8:41:47 PM

London 101 29

The SightsThe Big Smoke is a living museum – everywhere you go you’ll see ancient buildings sitting cheek by jowl with sleek modern architecture. Be sure to bring a spare memory card – you’ll want to fill your camera up with pictures.

The seat of Her Majesty the Queen, Buckingham

Palace is an iconic building and an unmissable stop

on any self-respecting tourist’s visit. You can book

up to take a guided tour of the State Rooms on

certain days, which gives you a wonderful insight

into the grandeur and pageantry of royal life. You

must make sure to be around for one of the regular

‘changing of the guard’ ceremonies, too, when

soldiers dressed in breastplates and ceremonial hats

march their way to and from their guardposts. Once

you’re done checking out the heart of royal London,

take a wander in the surrounding St James’s Park,

which leads you up through leafy greenery to

Westminster Abbey.

The Abbey was originally founded in the 7th

century and has gone through several different

incarnations. It is the place in which British kings

and queens are married, crowned and buried and

saw the coronations of King Harold and William

the Conqueror, both in 1066. Queen Elizabeth was

married to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh here, as were –

more recently – Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Aside from the centuries-old whiff of history

that greets you when you enter, there are a lot of

beautiful stained glass windows to see, and some

enchanting old monuments – including tributes to

the fallen in pretty much every British battle for

the last millenium (which is a lot). In order to get

the most out of the Abbey, you should book a tour

guide, who will give you some fantastic insights its

rich history.

If you’re looking to sit back, people watch and

soak up a little atmosphere, grab yourself a seat at

Trafalgar Square. This great imperial square at the

heart of London is the site of all of the city’s big

demonstrations and celebrations. At its centre is

the 150 foot high Nelson’s column, topped with an

18 foot tall statue of Horatio Nelson, Britain’s most

famous Navy man. The four huge lions at the base

of the column were supposedly cast from bronze

cannons which were taken from the French fleet

during the Battle of Trafalgar. Directly behind you

is the wonderful National Gallery, and to your left is

the Strand, a famous old shopping street.

Up north, tacked on to the gigantic Regent’s

Park – which is worth an afternoon’s walkaround in

itself, with its lovely gardens and waterway as well

as its own dedicated theatre where great al fresco

plays take place in summertime – is London Zoo,

one of the biggest and best zoos in Europe. The

london 101.indd 29 4/26/2011 8:41:48 PM

London 101 31

rafts of extraordinary treasures, including ancient

banknotes, furniture, statues and silver.

Another venerable institution – and one which

has had a more infamous history than the Bank of

England – is the Tower of London. A thousand year

old fortress, the tower has been a palace, a prison, a

royal mint and even a zoo. Three queens of England

have been beheaded here, and hundreds of political

prisoners locked up inside. A guided tour will give

you all the background you need to understand

the place – and will take you to see the wonderful

Crown Jewels.

At the heart of London, of course, is The River

Thames, a sight to behold in itself as well as

offering a great way to get about. Numerous tourist

boats ply this historic waterway, picking up and

dropping off from Westminster Pier, Tower Pier and

Greenwhich Pier and as you float along you’ll see

– and pass under – the magnificent Tower Bridge.

During your waterborne jaunt, you’ll also catch sight

of the riverfront London Eye, a relatively recent

addition to the city’s skyline. This outsized ferris

Clockwise from left: London Eye; Kensington Palace garden; Tower Bridge.

wheel is worth stopping off to visit – the queues

can be huge, but it’s worth the wait as you float up

into the sky for a bird’s eye view out over the city.

bmi recommends...If you’ve got a lot of sights to cover and you prefer being

out in the fresh air, why not rent a bike to get between

cultural icons? The introduction of London’s bike hire

scheme, known affectionately as ‘Boris Bikes’ after the

city’s scruffy-haired mayor Boris Johnson, has been a

roaring success. You’ll see banks of bikes on every other

street corner - just swipe your credit card to release one,

cycle off and when you reach your destination you can

park it in a nearby holding bay. You can cycle for half an

hour for free, which should be plenty to get you between

destinations. And the bikes themselves are rather good -

sturdy and well built, with good lights.

london 101.indd 31 4/26/2011 8:42:13 PM

entrance fee is hefty – but it’s worth every penny.

The layout is simple – follow the paths and you’ll be

led around enclosures of giraffes, zebras, baboons,

penguins and more, as well as petrifying collections

of bugs, spiders and snakes, and a charming

walk-in butterfly room where the air is thick with

kaleidoscopic wings. An unmissable attraction,

particularly if you have kids in tow.

Set in another lovely park, Kensington Palace

is the former official residence of Diana Princess

of Wales (and the dedicated Diana Memorial

Playground is just nearby). Many parts of the Palace

are currently unaccessible due to building works

but the state rooms, which are open, have been

taken over by a fascinating art experiment entitled

‘The Enchanted Palace’, a mysterious experience

which showcases modern fashion and art.

The icon of British democracy and the heart of

the UK government is Parliament, comprised of

the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

You can sign up for an organised tour on Saturdays

and during the ‘Summer Opening’. In an hour and a

quarter, and accompanied by a trained guide, you’ll

get to see the key parts of the building, including

the debating chambers of the Commons and the

Lords, Westminster Hall and the Queen’s Robing

Room: all essential for history buffs. And of course,

you mustn’t miss out on seeing Big Ben, the famous

clock tower (or rather the bell which lies at its

heart) and taking a walk up its spiralling staircase.

When it comes to Victorian splendour, there’s

nothing to match The Albert Hall, a redbrick beauty

which is one of London’s most prestigious venues.

The best way to see it is at a concert – as you listen

to the music you can take in the huge vaulting

ceilings, the rich red drapery and the gilt lining

that trims all the walls. There are also regular tours

of the Hall, which take you behind the scenes and

give you access to the Queen’s Box and the Royal

Retiring Room.

The hub of the UK’s financial power is The

City, and at its heart lies The Bank of England.

You can’t take a tour of the bank itself, but you

can visit the Bank of England Museum which has

Clockwise from left: Westminster Abbey; Trafalgar Square; Buckingham Palace’s famous guards.

‘If you’re looking to sit back, people watch and soak up a little atmosphere, grab yourself a seat at Trafalgar Square’

london 101.indd 30 4/26/2011 8:41:59 PM

London 101 31

rafts of extraordinary treasures, including ancient

banknotes, furniture, statues and silver.

Another venerable institution – and one which

has had a more infamous history than the Bank of

England – is the Tower of London. A thousand year

old fortress, the tower has been a palace, a prison, a

royal mint and even a zoo. Three queens of England

have been beheaded here, and hundreds of political

prisoners locked up inside. A guided tour will give

you all the background you need to understand

the place – and will take you to see the wonderful

Crown Jewels.

At the heart of London, of course, is The River

Thames, a sight to behold in itself as well as

offering a great way to get about. Numerous tourist

boats ply this historic waterway, picking up and

dropping off from Westminster Pier, Tower Pier and

Greenwhich Pier and as you float along you’ll see

– and pass under – the magnificent Tower Bridge.

During your waterborne jaunt, you’ll also catch sight

of the riverfront London Eye, a relatively recent

addition to the city’s skyline. This outsized ferris

Clockwise from left: London Eye; Kensington Palace garden; Tower Bridge.

wheel is worth stopping off to visit – the queues

can be huge, but it’s worth the wait as you float up

into the sky for a bird’s eye view out over the city.

bmi recommends...If you’ve got a lot of sights to cover and you prefer being

out in the fresh air, why not rent a bike to get between

cultural icons? The introduction of London’s bike hire

scheme, known affectionately as ‘Boris Bikes’ after the

city’s scruffy-haired mayor Boris Johnson, has been a

roaring success. You’ll see banks of bikes on every other

street corner - just swipe your credit card to release one,

cycle off and when you reach your destination you can

park it in a nearby holding bay. You can cycle for half an

hour for free, which should be plenty to get you between

destinations. And the bikes themselves are rather good -

sturdy and well built, with good lights.

london 101.indd 31 4/26/2011 8:42:13 PM

E N T E R

A D I F F E R E N T

W O R L D

har

rods

.com

+44

(0)

20 7

730

1234

32 London 101

For a slice of quintessential English style in the heart of the capital, look no further

than the elegant surrounds of the historic Stafford London. Nestled in a peaceful

patch behind Green Park (and a stone’s throw from busy Piccadilly), the hotel’s main

house takes up residence within three 17th century townhouses, while the adjacent

Stafford Mews host myriad suites in a courtyard setting. Take advantage of the hotel’s

central location with a mammoth shopping trip to some of the top streets in town –

Bond Street, Jermyn Street and Regent Street – before taking in a West End show.

And, when you’re ready for a bite, make your way back to The Stafford London’s fine

dining restaurant. It’s sublime.

THE PRIZE

We’re giving away a three-night stay for two in a deluxe room in the hotel’s main

house, including a full English breakfast daily. To be in with a chance of winning,

email your answer to the question below to [email protected] before

May 31, 2011.

Q. Which park is located close to The Stafford London?

a. Hyde Park

b. Green Park

c. Upton Park

Terms and conditions: Prize is subject to availability at the time of booking.

Prize must be claimed within 12 months after winner is notified.

WIN! A three-night stay at The Stafford London, by Kempinski

competition.indd 32 5/1/2011 9:14:48 AM

E N T E R

A D I F F E R E N T

W O R L D

har

rods

.com

+44

(0)

20 7

730

1234

Fly Business Class with bmi into London Heathrow and enjoy all the bene�ts o�ered by the largest British airline �ying into Heathrow Terminal 1, including easy

same terminal connections to the UK, Europe and North America.

bmi �ies from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah to London Heathrow. For more information contact your travel

agent, call toll free on 800 124 5550 or visit �ybmi.com

Good business is all aboutbeing well connected.

Untitled-3 1 4/27/2011 8:44:45 PM

London 101_May'11

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